A part of getting older, I feel, is reminiscing again on some shut calls in life. Whether or not it’s a possible associate or life-changing assembly or that massive second within the sport – it is enjoyable to surprise “what if?”

Since I have been the self-proclaimed King of the Underground Wrestling sport, I’ve had interactions with almost each stud wrestler from the 90s to now. I’ve wrestled professional matches in opposition to them. I’ve shared locker rooms with them. And have secrets and techniques about a number of.

My recollection is not all the time high notch, however I would prefer to share a number of ALMOST had ’em moments with some professional wrestling and underground studs.

KYLE BRADFORD

Ever since I began within the underground wrestling world, I’ve heard tales about and, even, had slight comparisons to the legendary Kyle Bradford. Certain, you are taking every part you hear with a grain of salt, however how cool would it not be if Tom Cruise (or maybe, Brad Pitt) selected you as a wrestling associate. 

I’ve heard a number of angles on this story and browse a number of articles concerning the incident. I do not know if it is true or not, however it’s fascinating. I want I might share extra particulars that I’ve heard of this story and possibly when you catch me in-person I will gossip a bit about it. 

Lastly after almost a decade of making an attempt to contact Kyle Bradford, I lastly acquired his cellphone quantity. I can not recall who gave it to me. I am legit after I say I’ve requested many individuals over time.

A couple of instances yearly, I strive getting in contact with him on his quantity. I all the time get the identical end result. Riiiing-riiiing-riiiiing-riiiing…you will have reached the voicemail of…..

Most lately, my outdated roommate has chatted him up on some web site…or no less than it is anyone saying it is the person himself. Let’s hope it’s. I would prefer to on the very least chat with Mr. Bradford over the cellphone for a half hour and have no less than begged him to return do a pair movies for my web site earlier than I die.

JUNGLE BOY

How loopy would it not have been to have a Hollywood 90s MEGASTAR’s son on the positioning? Particularly one as match and gifted as Jungle Boy of AEW fame. 

Earlier than he was well-known in wrestling, I had acquired an e-mail or 2 talked about this wrestler from California that I ought to attain out to – Jungle Boy Nate McCoy. I feel Barry Burke even counsel or talked about that the dude could also be excited about doing matches.

If you do not know, “Nate McCoy” is 90s heartthrob Luke Perry’s son. He had wild hair and was ripped, however it was apparent he was a rookie. Nonetheless studying his craft. He’d be a terrific jobber!

I reached out to him on some social media and pitched him the concept of coming to Florida or Boston to do a number of matches for the positioning. He was open to the concept and we had been engaged on establishing a time to do such. Life could be very busy for lots of people and typically the subsequent shoot on my schedule would not work properly with their commitments, so it will possibly take time to set issues up. 

Lengthy story quick (or possibly the suitable size for this story), Jungle Boy informed me he chatted along with his father (or somebody) and did not assume it was a smart thought to partake in movies like this at the moment. And I feel he was proper. You gotta assume it could’ve been a tad “scandalous” if a TV stars son was perceived to be doing erotica. Clearly that is not what he would’ve been doing. He would’ve been placing on a helluva present in his professional trunks, however you see how the web works typically.

Anyway, WOW! That will’ve been unimaginable to have him on his rise to world fame.

CHRIS MASTERS

I do not even know the way this one got here up. I feel a number of issues occurred. First, I feel a fan or 6 messaged me about how cool it would be to have Chris Masters on the positioning. I reached out to him by way of e-mail and acquired no response. I feel Jonny Firestorm tried the identical method to no avail…then someplace down the street I acquired phrase that he was and I ought to name him…or possibly I simply acquired his quantity and resolve I might contact base with him about it. Both means, I ended up along with his quantity.

He was cool and well mannered. I neglect how the lead off to the convo went, however the spotlight for me was after exchanging a handful of textual content messages, he requested one thing like – “so, uh, can we deliver our personal thongs or do you provide them?” I let him know that professional trunks and speedos had been cool…and I am positive I mentioned, when you wanna put on much less that is fantastic, too. 

Not precisely positive why this fell aside. I feel we had been engaged on setting a date for a shoot with him, however his schedule acquired tremendous busy and possibly one of many massive corporations was negotiating with him to do some TV stuff. It wasn’t like we had been finest buddies and messaging a ton. He was very well mannered about it and a MASTERPIECE was misplaced.

SAMMY GUEVARA

I do not wanna bury the man or something like that. He is a stable sufficient wrestler and we have a robust mutual acquaintance (most likely much more than that). Nevertheless, after I hit him up by way of twitter or another means, he wasn’t well mannered and I felt he was a tad impolite. 

I’ve by no means met the dude and this was all an change by means of social media, so I can perceive. Pretty sure I informed him of our mutual pal and I anticipated a way more well mannered decline to my supply. 

I’ve a sense he could have performed one other wrestling corporations movies, however possibly that was only a rumor. Can anybody affirm? 

BUFF BAGWELL

Now, certainly one of my private favourite one which acquired away was Buff Bagwell. I spoke to this man for hours and over weeks. What a personality?!

I do not even know the place to start out. From the primary cellphone name it was wild. I used to look at Buff The Stuff on TV after I was a child, so to be on the cellphone with him is surreal. It is attention-grabbing how life works out typically. 

So right here I’m on the cellphone with Buff Bagwell discussing bringing him in for an upcoming shoot. He is and we comply with phrases…EXCEPT there may be one maintain up. He is acquired an insecurity about his calves. Sure, those on his legs. He admits that there was a cause he was an extended tights man and why his boots are a bit extra roomy than stereotypical professional boots. I guarantee him that we are able to work round that and he is in!

WOW! That is superior.

An evening or two later, Buff texts me and says to offer him a name to talk about some stuff. I do not recall all the main points however we work on finalizing the shoot and flight plans. He is flying out of Atlanta so it is a comparatively simple flight to anyplace within the USA. Cool – it is gonna occur. That is big!

The week strikes on and Buff desires to talk on the cellphone once more. The cellphone calls are enjoyable and I feel he is extremely entertaining. He talks about his younger days in wrestling and a few “part-time work” he did shaking his cash maker. Hinting the boys tip higher than girls. He mentions his “escorting” work that he was doing on a TV present, however mentioned that was largely for the cameras. This dude is unquestionably a famous person. He is a personality and I dig it.

 We chat a pair extra instances over the subsequent few days and the cellphone calls are typically over half-hour lengthy. He likes chatting at evening, which is nice with my mind schedule. I are inclined to assume higher at evening.

Throughout certainly one of our cellphone calls, he mentions he is acquired a chance to do one thing throughout WrestleMania weekend…or some massive occasion like that – so he is asking if we are able to postpone the shoot till after that. He explains the significance of the reserving for the professional wrestling gig and I am an understanding man. We comply with set it for a future date. The flight wasn’t too costly (once more – Atlanta is a simple airport for many locations) however Buff affords to assist get a refund on the ticket. He goes on to say one thing like “I am glad to assist get you a refund or credit score for the flight. If I’ve to I will say one thing like a member of the family handed away. You would not imagine what number of instances I’ve informed them my aunt or uncle lately died and I’ve to make the funeral” or one thing like that – actually not far off. 

We chuckle about it. 

I do not know what occurred, however ultimately our calls and chats fizzled out. I discussed possibly him doing a shout out for the followers of the positioning since life was seemingly getting in the way in which of us coordinating a shoot. I wasn’t out any actual cash. Just some {dollars} for a cheap flight. He was cool about it, however I feel I dropped the ball. I higher decide up the cellphone and provides him a shout. Worst case, I am positive he’ll have me laughing my ass off.

Undecided if I’ve ever been on a professional wrestling occasion with him, however I do know my tag associate has. He was pumped about it. Instructed me that Buff mentioned he cherished his offense and vitality within the ring. Bagwell even talked about how my buddy did not do any strikes that he noticed on WWE and he favored it. 

These are those I can finest keep in mind, however I’ve misplaced many different nice catches. Most of them as a consequence of loyalty to a different firm or real-life company jobs. I did virtually have Scot Williams from BG East fame. He mentioned he was open to personal customized matches, however needed to respect his friendship with the boss. I perceive that. That is a standard factor with that group. Their roster stays loyal to Child Leopard, even years (a long time) after they’ve wrestled for him.

If I consider every other massive ones, I will should do a observe up submit on this weblog. Possibly you recall some that I can not. Let me know, in that case. 

This submit wasn’t meant to “bury” anybody or paint them in a nasty mild. It has been a enjoyable and wild trip on this wrestling world I’ve grown up in. I hope you loved a few of these tales and a little bit perception to my world.